Granite Stripe

FANTASY: Beating the Brickyard

NASCAR has been racing at the most historic racing venue in the world for over 20 years.
Getty Images

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series got a well-deserved break last weekend, and as has become the case for us at NHMS in recent years, so did we. It was a successful Camping World RV Sales 301 race weekend that saw the Sprint Cup Series tie a historical record with the 13 consecutive different winner at our track.

After which, both NASCAR and the staff at NHMS had the opportunity to recharge with an open weekend. Both will now put their focus toward a strong Chase performance and end to the season.

For the boys and girl of the Sprint Cup Series, that starts this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Here's a look at the fantasy starts and parks for the weekend:

Green Flag: Jeff Gordon

Not even a gas deficiency at NHMS could knock him out of the points lead. Gordon should continue to set the pace for the series at Indy, where he has four wins and 16 top-10s in 20 starts. Based on that success, this could be the week he goes from being a consistent point-getter with a single win to a multiple race-winning championship favorite.

Yellow Flag: Juan Pablo Montoya

Especially in the Yahoo! format where he appears as a C-list driver, Montoya could be a solid option. He's started on the front row in three of seven Brickyard races. In 2009, he led 116 laps before a pit road penalty cost him a shot at the win. He's also one of only two drivers to have raced at this track earlier this year. (He and Kurt Busch raced the Indianapolis 500.) Of course, he's only a part-time driver with a single Cup start at Penske Racing, but the upside is there.

Red Flag: Kurt Busch

Speaking of Busch, he finished in sixth in that Indy 500, a spot behind Montoya. However, he hasn't shown similar success in a stock car at Indy. His lone top-five came in his first race at the track in 2001, and he hasn't registered such a finish in the last 12 IMS races. The early-season win at Martinsville should be enough to get him into this year's Chase, but he still sits 25th in points and has had a trying season. The Brickyard doesn't project to be the track where he figures it all out.